A New Season of Service
FOM Newsletter Spring 1997
The following is excerpted from a White House Press Release of the President' 5 April 1997, radio address.
President Clinton designated a National Service Week, trying to generate "a new season of service" in the US. He hoped that over one million Americans would participate at food banks, shelters, and playgrounds.
Mr. Clinton remarked, "As I' said many times, the era of big government may be over, but the era of big challenges for our nation is surely not." He went on to say, "It is the very American idea that we can meet our challenges not through heavy-handed government or as isolated individuals, but as members of a true community - all of us working together."
The 3,000 community service projects planned for the week of 13-19 April, was meant to create excitement for the President' 29 April national service summit scheduled at Philadelphia. The President said, "Every person can make a difference and every person must try. Our mission is nothing less than to spark a renewed national sense of obligation, a new sense of duty, a new season of service."
Guest speakers for the three-day summit include President Bush, President Ford, retired Army Gen. Colin Powell, Nancy Reagan , and representatives of other former presidents. The service projects were organized by Peace Corps and AmeriCorps.
